/Now

This is what I’m focused on right now, in the real world, not the aspirational multiverse where I have unlimited time.

Work

I’m deep in MSP life, doing the usual blend of cybersecurity, IT admin, and “why is this one thing suddenly on fire?”

• Rolling out extra protection for clients (DNS filtering with Datto DNS Secure), plus the real-world part: explaining false positives and keeping workflows smooth.
• Troubleshooting the kind of issues that never show up in a textbook. Card terminals, weird connectivity, and the occasional mystery backup math problem.
• Chipping away at practical hardening habits: reduce attack surface, keep endpoints sane, and don’t trust vibes as a security control.

School

School is back in motion, and it lines up nicely with what I do in the real world.

• Cloud Technologies is my current lane, with labs that mirror day-to-day security work: vulnerability scanning, remote access, RAID, DNS and DNSSEC, disabling services, AV/firewall work, restoring files, and Event Viewer analysis.
• Main goal: keep momentum and finish strong. I’m close to the end of this degree, and I can see the finish line.

Writing and sharing

January has been a “publish and iterate” month.

• Cybersecurity Weekly Roundup is rolling again for 2026, with my usual format: clear headings, my take, and an action when it’s warranted.
• I’m building practical content that’s meant to get used, not just read. Example: the “common ports you must know (and secure)” type of post, plus a printable cheat sheet people can keep.
• I also wrote about the messier side of tech culture and safety when it shows up in the news cycle.

Book

I’m actively writing my cyber-thriller series, The FIOS Files.

• Book 1 is The Cipher Fellows.
• Right now I’m shaping the front matter and the “book identity” pieces (dedication, foreword, acknowledgments) while keeping the actual drafting moving.
• The goal is to keep it grounded in real-world security and IT life, but still make it a page-turner.
• I have a draft ready for review, and I’m aiming to get feedback from a few trusted readers. If you want to be one, let me know and I’ll send you a copy.

Site building

My website is getting its usual ongoing tune-up.

• I’m doing a full tag audit and started cleaning up taxonomy so posts are easier to browse and easier to maintain.
• I’m treating “site updates” more like an actual section instead of scattered mentions, and I’m playing with a “find the changes” kind of hashtag when I post updates.
• Ongoing tweaks: Eleventy templates, tag pagination, CSS polish, and quality-of-life improvements like search and reactions.

Watching

I’ve been watching a couple shows lately, mostly as “recover from the day” brain fuel.

• A few solid binge sessions happened this month; I started watching Fresh Off the Boat with the family and we love it. Also watched The Copenhagen Test which was a solid thriller.
• Some of our regular shows are back from the holiday break so that’s filling in the gaps too.

Listening

Music has been a comfort tool.

• I built a big 80s/90s Killer Hits playlist. I have been listening to this on repeat!
• I also went full time machine on an ultimate 2000s emo playlist.

Personal and fun stuff

• I wrote a more personal indie-web style post about a Bondi Blue phone case and got hit with instant iMac G3 nostalgia. Computer lab memories included.

Health and life

January had a rough patch with being sick, and I’m still easing back into routines. The focus has been consistency over perfection, especially with early mornings and family schedules.

Next up

• Finish the tag cleanup so the site’s organization matches how I actually write and post.
• Keep the Weekly Roundup cadence steady and make the “hero image + captions + sharing” workflow faster.
• Push the next school deliverables across the finish line without letting them eat my whole week.
• Keep The Cipher Fellows moving forward, even if it’s a little every day.